Collapsed by a typhoon Asbestos on the outer wall of a nuclear facility Ibaraki Oarai-machi, November 25, 6:42
In September, it was found that plates containing asbestos were used on the entire outer wall of a nuclear facility in Ibaraki that was destroyed by a typhoon. As a result of the measurement, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency has determined that the concentration in the air is sufficiently low and does not affect the surroundings.
At the Oarai Research Institute of JAEA in Oarai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, a typhoon No. 15 on September 9th collapsed a facility about 17 meters high that cools the research reactor.
This facility, which was made 51 years ago, was decided to be abolished, and the operation was stopped, so there was no leakage of radioactive material, but it turned out that a plate containing asbestos was used on the entire outer wall. The total area of the board is 1100 square meters, and it is possible that some asbestos was scattered because it was broken and collapsed.
Regarding this, JAEA banned the site and measured the concentration in the air in late September, which means that the maximum was 0.11 per liter, which was about 1 / 100th of national standards. For these reasons, JAEA has stated that there is no impact on the surrounding area and that there is no risk of health damage to staff and residents.
However, the institute has several other facilities where asbestos was used, and the detailed cause of the collapse is not yet known. Therefore, there is a need to prevent recurrence in the future. Since asbestos causes mesothelioma when inhaled, appropriate management is required by law when dismantling buildings.